Pictured, from left are Warsaw Police Chief Scott Whitaker, Officer Miles Reichard, Officer Christopher Brown, Captain Joel Beam, Warsaw Mayor Joseph Thallemer and Elkhart City Police Department Chaplain Jim Bontrager.

WARSAW — Elkhart City Police Department Chaplain Jim Bontrager presented Warsaw Police Officers with three notable awards during the Warsaw Board of Works meeting held today, Jan. 19.

Officer Wayne Wilkie received the award of Ultimate Warrior.

Each year in October, the Elkhart Police Department hosts Officer Appreciation Day, a weekend full of friendly competitions and activities for officers across the country. Last year, there were officers from 12 different states present.

The first award was presented to Officer Miles Reichard for the most well-rounded shooter in the shooting competition.

“This year, Warsaw PD shows up and we are all sitting back in the smoke and we see Miles Reichard take it to the bank and wins first place,” said Bontrager. “There’s been a number of distinguished winners all the way from the Philadelphia Police Department to all over and this year the top shooter was none other than this gentleman right here, who took it to the cleaners.”

The next award presented was for the three-man team shooting competition. Warsaw’s team consisted of officers Wayne Wilkie, Christopher Brown and Reichard.

“Once again at the top of the food chain was this particular police department called Warsaw Police Department,” said Bontrager. “They came and triumphed. They just cleaned our clocks.”

The final and the most notable award was given to Wilkie for the Ultimate Warrior. This competition consists of knife throwing, spear throwing, longbow shooting, a full sized military obstacle course and many other events. Wilkie was not present at the meeting as he is currently attending military training for the Marines.

“Out of all those activities there’s only one person who gets the distinction of being the Ultimate Warrior,” explained Bontrager. “When that all was over with, to our astonishment once again, here we are.”

“I just want you guys to know that Warsaw, Indiana, came in and they dominated and you have a lot to be proud of,” said Bontrager. “Just rest at night knowing that you have some real warriors that are standing in the trenches. You’re making a big difference.”

The street department then took over the stage to award the bid for a roadway improvement project. The project will include the repaving of Main Street from Owens to Parker streets, Holiday Drive and Pontiac Drive from CR 225E until the end of the city limits. The money for the project was received through the Community Crossings grant.

Phend & Brown, Milford, was awarded the bid with the amount of $176,537.

In other news:

• The board approved the release of a mortgage at 505 Alward St., Warsaw.
• The Warsaw Parks Department was approved for the annual contract with Warsaw-Wayne Township for $75,000 to provide park services for township residents. The park department also accepted a grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for $5015 to be used for the Central Park Concert Series.
• A pay application with Mosaic Building Solutions was approved for construction of Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Station 3.
• A Memorandum of Understanding was approved between the stormwater department and Paddlers for Conservation.
• The 2018 MedStat agreement was approved which provides services such as new hire drug tests and workers compensation claims.